Jesse Puljujarvi was in over his head as a teenage pro last season like Leon Draisaitl was in his first kick at the can in the National Hockey League.

Which begs the question: Can we expect the Finnish winger, whom the Edmonton Oilers took fourth overall in the 2016 draft, to do what the German centre, who went third in 2014, did in Year 2? Or is that giant leap of faith?

Draisaitl had nine points in 37 games in his freshman NHL year, before going back to junior in Kelowna as he helped the Western Hockey League’s Rockets to the Memorial Cup tournament. He came back faster and hungrier after changing his off-season regimen to more footwork and less strength and had 51 points, centring a line with Taylor Hall, then that breakout 77 points last season which snared him that eight-year, US$68-million contract.

Puljujarvi scored eight points in 28 Oilers games last year, scoring in his first NHL game in Calgary but not again before going to the farm in Bakersfield, where he netted 28 points in 39 games. Can we expect Puljujarvi to get to 50 Oilers points this year a la Draisaitl? It depends where he plays. If he’s on a third line on the right side with centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the veteran off-season addition Jussi Jokinen on the left, probably not.

But there are so many things to consider with Puljujarvi, who found himself reacting to situations and being half a step behind rather than initiating things as his NHL time went on last season.

2. He may be a playmaking winger like Ales Hemsky, not a big scorer. He scored only nine goals in half an AHL season in Bakersfield.

3. How much will he have to lean on Jokinen, who has played more than 900 NHL games and owns the Finnish League (Karpat) team Puljujarvi played on, not just on the ice but off it? Puljujarvi’s assimilation to North America is still very much a process; his English is better.

I feel different coming into this camp.

Jesse Puljujarvi

Maybe we should use another comparable for Puljujarvi besides Draisaitl.

Ryan Johansen, the Jackets’ fourth overall pick out of junior in 2010, went back to Portland Winterhawks, then had 21 points his first NHL season at 19. Then 12 points in 40 games over the 2013 lockout season with alarm bells ringing. He finally got it when he was 21 years old with 63 points. He’s had 71, 60 and 61 since then.

It’s seldom arrows up with teenagers in the NHL, but for the odd Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews.

“Obviously, you’re not happy starting up (NHL), then down (AHL) but it’s all development. He’s still young and it’s a man’s league. He’s got a man’s body, but he’s only 19 years old,” said Milan Lucic.

“He’s got the frame (six-foot-four, 203 pounds) to play an entire 82-game schedule. It’s all about having confidence. I remember when I was 19 in Boston my first year, they couldn’t send me down (AHL), just back to junior. In my first 40 to 45 games, I averaged only five-and-a-half minutes a game until a couple of left-wingers got hurt, and I got my chance and was able to show I could play.”

But last year for Puljuarvi was a struggle. One veteran NHL team pro scout who watched him a lot, here and in the minors, thought he should have gone back to Finland and dominated rather than stay in North America.

“Sometimes, you don’t see it (going back to junior or minors) as motivation at the time, but at the end of the day, it’s a good thing. But that’s me,” said Draisaitl. “He’s a different type of player and person, so you can’t really compare us.”

Leon Draisaitl in November 2015.Larry Wong /
Edmonton Journal

Puljuarvi says he had a good off-season back in Finland with his family and friends. He says he focused on two things. “My speed and my power,” he said.

Sounds like Draisaitl’s plan with his trainer back in Europe.

“I learned in Bakersfield that I have to be fast every night and ready,” Puljujarvi said. “Of course, I was getting frustrated last year when I couldn’t score, but I went to Bakersfield and played many minutes. I feel different coming into this camp.”

Oilers centre Mark Letestu felt for the teenager last season.

“We’re not expecting him to carry a line, we’re not putting any pressure on him as teammates. He’s not coming in to save us,” he said. “We’re a pretty good hockey team and if he can augment that, great. The history of the Oilers … we have to forget that (shoving high draft picks right into the lineup because of where they were chosen). They don’t have to come in right away. We have a good team and it’s important for players to earn their spot.